Neighborhood Notes: Betty Wolfe is recipient of the Miss Aggie Award for 2011

Thursday

Mar 24, 2011 at 12:01 AM

Rhonda Reese

Mandarin resident Betty Wolfe has enjoyed an amazing March.

On March 12, the city honored her by renaming the park within the Pickwick subdivision where she has lived for more than 20 years the Elizabeth R. Wolfe Park. On Saturday, Wolfe was honored at the Old Mandarin Store and Post Office with the seventh annual Miss Aggie Award.

The award honors a female Mandarin resident who has contributed to the community in the areas of business, civic, educational or charitable accomplishments.

"Miss Aggie was the proprietor and postmistress of the store and post office from 1928 until 1964," said Karen Roumillat, Mandarin Museum and Historical Society board member and great-niece of Miss Aggie. "She was known for her community spirit and for helping those in need."

Wolfe flashed her contagious smile upon receiving the award.

"I was surprised," Wolfe said, adding that she felt the same as when the park was renamed for her.

People who know Wolfe were not surprised. Wolfe has served as president of the Pickwick Park Civic Association since 1987 and the major lobbyist for the park. She also has served as a volunteer for organizations that include the Mandarin Community Club, the Jacksonville Garden Club, Southeast Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, Sheriff's Advisory Council and the Duval County Supervisor of Elections.

"It's her longtime commitment to her neighborhood and associations that set her apart," Lynn Cuda wrote on the Miss Aggie nomination application.

Cuda said that Wolfe's crowning achievement with her neighborhood association was the development of Pickwick Park, a 5-acre public park. Developing the park spanned the terms of four City Council members who were active in seeing the project completed.

To honor Wolfe's commitment to Pickwick Park, Councilman Jack Webb introduced an ordinance to have the park renamed for her.

"I'm just thrilled with how the park is being used," Wolfe said. "People from all over the community are using it. I love seeing grandmothers with their grandchildren there."

In addition to a fondness for parks, Wolfe has a flair for politics. She has worked on several campaigns and served as a poll volunteer with the elections office for 12 years. This year she's a precinct manager.

"Politics have been part of my family for a long time," Wolfe said. "My father made all his children register when they turned 21."

Miss Aggie Day, which was first held in 2001, is celebrated each year during Women's History Month. Past award winners include: Jane Cooksey, community volunteer; Mary Ann Southwell, former City Council member and community leader; Roumillat, former president and executive director of the Historical Society; and Kate Monson, a former Mandarin teacher.

The Miss Aggie Day celebration included tours of the 1911 Old Mandarin Store and Post Office. Guests also enjoyed free RC Colas and Moon Pies, favorite snacks when the store served the community from 1911-64. Guests ate and visited on the front porch of the famed building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Send news and tales from Mandarin, Beauclerc and other areas in the 32223, 32257 and 32258 ZIP codes to Rhonda Reese at 207-3232 or glreese@bellsouth.net.

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